The Faim – Talk Talk

By starrymag | June 30, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences? 

A) Our musical influences amongst the four of us in the band are very diverse. They range from synth driven artists like LCD Soundsystem to 90’s rock bands like The Smashing Pumpkins.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “The Alchemist.” 

A) “The Alchemist” was written by me and producer, Matt Pauling. This was definitely one of the fastest songs to go from the idea’s inception to the finished song. We wrote it about the person in your life that makes you a better version of yourself, and helps you see the good in everything around you.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to? 

A) I think when a song comes from a genuine place, people are much more likely to connect with it. The experiences we go through in life I’m sure are very similar to so many people around the world, so when we write honestly about these things, it opens us up to people finding a part of themselves in our music.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics? 

A) Honestly, the process changes with each song. The most important thing for me, personally, is to have a vision of what I want the finished song to be. Whether it’s a sound, vibe or a feeling, it helps me to have an end goal in sight and put the puzzle pieces together to reach that vision. This doesn’t mean that every song will sound like its initial intention. Actually, most of the time it becomes totally different by the end of the process, but I always find it important to have an idea of the next step, instead of trying to flesh out a song totally blind.

Q) For “The Alchemist” Matthew Pauling lent a hand with production, but how much of a say does the band have in regards the production of your music?

A) I would say that when working with a producer, it’s so important that they understand not only what production is best for the song, but also what best represents the band’s vision as a whole. When writing “The Alchemist,” Matt and I were on the exact same page of how we envisioned the song sounding, so it was a very easy process in which everything that Matt recorded on the track was in line with what I had in mind. After recording the initial demo we then sent it to the rest of the band for their thoughts and notes, just like every other song, and from there each song differs in how much the production changes from the addition/subtraction of parts in the production process.

Q) What are some themes you will be exploring on your upcoming album Talk Talk. 

A) The themes across the album are quite reflective of our personal journeys throughout its creation. For example, the songs with darker undertones like “Ease My Mind” and “Flowers” were written during tougher moments in our lives, when the future was more unknown, whereas songs like “The Alchemist” and “Me Because of You” were written after this, in a time of reflection and gratitude.

Q) What tracks on the album challenged you the most creatively? 

A) Each song has its own challenges when it comes to seeing through the initial idea, but two that stand out for me are “Life in a Cinema” and “Faith in Me.” These were two songs that I produced the initial demos; however, the production on these demos was quite for from what the songs needed to be what they are today. Re-creating the vibe of these songs through the production was definitely a challenge, but one that was made much easier by the producer, Matt Pauling, having a vision from the initial demo of what the final song could be.

Q) “Ease My Mind” is a personal favorite song off the album for me. Which song(s) hold a special place in your heart? 

A) I’m glad you like that song!! “Ease My Mind” is definitely a special one for me as it was one of the first songs we wrote for the album! Another special song off this record for me is “Me Because of You,” as this is our first self-produced release. Sam [Tye] and I worked together on the production for this song from opposite sides of the world via FaceTime and we’re really stoked with how it all came together!

Q) What do you hope listeners will take away from exploring this sophomore album?

A) I hope that people can hear the development we’ve made as writers and as a band. This album has a more matured sound and leans in a direction that we’re all very excited to pursue in the future!

Q) Will there be a tour in the works to promote Talk Talk? 

A) You bet! We’re currently on a headline tour across UK/EU and then fly straight to Australia so start a headline run there from July 15-31!

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you? 

A) We’ve had the pleasure of experiencing some amazing crowds so far in Europe, specifically in France and Germany. Though crowds wherever we play are always so welcoming, there’s a kind of energy and love for live music here in Europe that really makes it stand out!

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future? 

A) He’s not necessarily a recording artist; however, someone that we’d love to work with one day is producer/writer, Mike Crossey! He’s worked on some amazing songs and we’re all huge fans of his production/mixing style!

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Without the support of our fans, we could never do what we do. Our fans are the ones buying tickets to shows, streaming our songs and wearing our merch. It’s so important for us to stay connected with them, so that they know all of their support is so appreciated by us!

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work? 

A) I’d like to say thank you to all of our fans that have known of us for years and shown us their support through this entire journey! Then, to everybody that has recently discovered us, welcome to the family and I hope we continue to write and release music that you enjoy! We’ll hopefully see you all somewhere on the road very soon!

 

 

All Questions Answered By Stephen Beerkens (bass/keyboard)